Project starts on Highway 55

A $1.4-million highway safety and improvement project for Highway 55 between Kimball and Annandale was slated to begin on Tuesday, Sept. 7, according the Minnesota Depart-ment of Transportation.

The project will run from the junction of Highway 15 in Kimball (in Stearns County) to Highway 5 in Annandale (in Wright County).

According to project supervisor, Micky Klasen, crews will begin turn-lane construction on the west end of the project starting on Tuesday, Sept. 7. The construction will progress from west to east, and motorists should be alert for daytime lane closures and flaggers in the area where crews are working.

Crews will also clean, reline, extend, and replace aprons on various existing culverts under Highway 55 during the project.

Once the turn lanes are constructed and culvert work is completed, crews will begin milling 1.5 inches of the existing bituminous pavement and overlay it with a new pavement surface consisting of three inches of bituminous and 1.5 inches on the shoulders. Flaggers and pilot cars will be used to control traffic during the milling and paving operations.

Drivers are urged to use extra caution and to be aware of workers and equipment on the roadway.

Weather permitting, the project is expected to be complete in November. The project schedule is based on good weather conditions.